Resch announces retirement from Devils’ broadcast booth

Glenn “Chico” Resch, a former New York Islanders goaltender who has served as a New Jersey Devils game analyst the past 18 seasons for MSG Networks, announced tonight that he will retire from broadcasting after Sunday afternoon’s season finale.

Resch will join Al Trautwig, E.J. Hradek, Ken Daneyko and Ron Duguay on “Hockey Night Live” at 9:30 p.m. Saturday to talk about his career on the ice and in the broadcast booth. He will then say goodbye to fans in a special postgame segment following Sunday’s game against the Boston Bruins (3 p.m., MSG).

“I never thought of this as a profession because at the end of the day I’m talking about hockey, a sport that I love and have a tremendous amount of respect for,” Resch said. “That’s why I’ve always had a special relationship with the people watching on TV and cheering in the arena — I’m an extension of them. I’ve been lucky to do this for 18 years and I’ve enjoyed every handshake and conversation I’ve ever had with Devils fans.”

Resch joined MSG Networks in 1996 and was paired with Devils play-by-play legend Mike “Doc” Emrick for 15 years. For the past three seasons, Resch has called games alongside play-by-play partner Steve Cangialosi.

“From the first day I met Chico in 1983 when he was the Devils’ goalie, I was like everyone else who crossed his path, especially Devils fans — I felt welcomed, I felt like I had a friend, and I knew I was not around a dull person,” Emrick said. “I will always remember watching so many great Devils performances together. I felt like we were broadcasting in Camelot. I imagine him getting back to Minnesota next week, hitting an antique store and then heading to the shack to ice fish, something he will probably be able to do up there until mid-May. I am very happy for Chico and his family.”